Colton, Mary (1822-1898)

Also known as
Cutting, Mary (1822-1898)
Field of activity
Suffragist and Philanthropist; community worker; law reformer; women's suffragist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-768055

Biographies

COLTON, MARY (1822-1898), philanthropist and suffragist, was born on 6 December 1822 in London, eldest of three children of Samuel Cutting, bootmaker, and his wife Hannah. In 1839 Mary accompanied her widowed father, her brother and sister to Adelaide. On 3 December 1844 at Trinity Church she married (Sir) John Colton, saddler and hardware merchant. Committed Methodists, they attended Gawler Place Wesleyan Chapel, and from 1851 its Pirie Street successor. Mary was one of Adelaide's earliest Sunday School teachers, continuing her classes for girls and young women for over fifty years. Devoted to her 'dear girls', she often walked to visit and help them if they were ill. In some homes she saw poverty and despair: her lifelong philanthropy, based on her ideals of Christian service, emerged from these experiences. She began with the church's Dorcas Society, the South Adelaide Wesleyan Ladies' Working Society (secretary from 1844) and later the Nursing Sisters' Association, which cared for needy mothers after childbirth.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography

Mary Colton, née Cutting, arrived in South Australia from London in 1839. She was closely associated with the South Australian Boarding out Society and the Adelaide Children's Hospital. In 1879 she formed a city club for young women which became the Young Women's Christian Association in 1884. She served as president until her death in 1898. She also worked with Mary Lee and others to form the South Australian Women's Suffrage League and became its president in 1892.

Mary Colton, née Cutting, was born in London, December 1822 to Hannah and Samuel Cutting. In 1839 she emigrated to South Australia with her newly widowed father and in 1844 she married John Blackler Colton. Between 1848 and 1865 she bore nine children, several of whom died in infancy. Her husband became Mayor of Adelaide (1874-75, a Member of Parliament (1862-1887) and twice Premier of South Australia. Both of them shared a keen interest in the well-being of society. They worked together in the Benevolent and Strangers' Friend Society and in organisations for the blind, deaf and dumb. Understanding the situation for poor people in the city, Mary Colton worked to house elderly women by joining a cottage homes committee in 1871 and later, the Lady Kintore Cottage Homes Trust. She was one of the principal founders of the Adelaide Children's Hospital in 1876, an organisation she served for the rest of her life. In 1879, concerned at the problems faced by young women, she began a city club and in 1880 they were housed in the Pirie Street Wesleyan Methodist Church in Adelaide. In 1884 it expanded to become the Young Women's Christian Association affiliated with its international counterparts. She remained its president until her death. An indefatigable worker she also worked on the Boarding-Out Society with Catherine Helen Spence and others concerned with the plight of orphaned and neglected children. It was through membership with the Ladies' Committee of the Social Purity Society that Mary Colton became involved in the campaign for women's suffrage. Recognising the urgent need for suffrage after being involved in the campaign to raise the age of consent to sixteen in 1885, Mary Colton joined with Mary Lee to organise the South Australian Women's Suffrage League in July 1888. Other members included Rosetta Birks, Elizabeth Nicholls, Serena Thorne Lake, Augusta Zadow and the League was later supported by Catherine Helen Spence. In 1892, Lady Mary Colton became president of the League. As a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union she was able to forge links with between it and the League which greatly assisted the suffrage campaign. During this incredibly busy period, she also found time for other duties, becoming foundation president of the Women's Auxiliary of Foreign Missions in 1893. Mary Colton continued her rigorous schedule of work until her illness and subsequent death on 28 July 1898.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Mary Colton

Selected resources (9)

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Australian Women's Register

  1. Colton, Mary (1822 - 1898)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Australian National University : Colton, Mary (1822 - 1898)
    Jones, Helen
    [2006]
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10093b.htm
  2. Mary Colton200 Australian women : a Redress anthology Radi, Heather 23-25 : Mary Colton
    Jones, Helen
    [[1988]]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  3. Mary Colton (nee Cutting)The Wakefield companion to South Australian history Prest, Wilfrid, 1940- (editor) ; Round, Kerrie (managing editor) ; Fort, Carol S. (Carol Susan) (assistant editor) 117 : Mary Colton (nee Cutting)
    [2001]
    Published: Wakefield Press
  4. Two Englishwomen, Miss Emma Robarts and Lady Kinnaird, laid the foundations of the world's largest international women's movement in 1855. In 1877 they named it the Young Women's Christian Association. The South Australian story of the YWCA is told by Lola Bray.Greater than their knowing : a glimpse of South Australian women 1836-1986 105-106 : Two Englishwomen, Miss Emma Robarts and Lady Kinnaird, laid the foundations of the world's largest international women's movement in 1855. In 1877 they named it the Young Women's Christian Association. The South Australian story of the YWCA is told by Lola Bray.
    Bray, Lola
    [1986]
    Published: Wakefield Press
  5. In her own name : women in South Australian history
    Jones, Helen, 1926-
    [1986]
    Published: Wakefield Press
  6. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  7. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia : SUMMARY RECORD (1889 - 1982)
    The collection is extensive and there are detailed series lists available. There are numerous sub-organisations that are concerned specifically with women including the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union Department, the Francis Willard Women's Christian Temperance Union. There as a huge amount of interesting information within this collection and it is necessary to consult the series lists for detailed information. Series 1- Comprises the administrative records of the state branch. Series 3 includes the Reports of annual Convention from 1889 Section 59 - Comprises biographical notes (c.1930) about Florence Balgarnie, Mrs. F.T.Edwards, Ellen & Mary Hodge, Mrs. Harrison Lee Cowie, Mrs. L.T.Williams and Sarah Turner. Section 60 - Biographical sketch of Miss Lockwood. (1937) Series IV - Contains the papers of Elizabeth Webb Nicholls. There are also several series involving correspondence between various women associated with the Union.
    SRG 186
  8. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Young Women's Christian Association of Adelaide (1919 - 1981)
    Records of the Young Women's Christian Association of Adelaide Inc., comprising property files, minutes of various committees, admission registers, financial records, histories of YWCA, general subject files, minutes of Board of Directors. Also includes minutes and correspondence of the Four Corners Club, 1963-1976 and the Committee for the Welfare of Overseas Students.
    SRG 403

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  1. Lee, Mary (1821-1909)
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  2. Corbin, Laura Mary Louisa (1841-1906)
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  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
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  1. Normal Seniors: Thomas Brandt; Emma Carpenter; Beatrice Colton; Orinn Compton; Opal Core; Mary Coulson
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  3. Map showing the Washington & St. Mary's Railroad and its proposed connections north, south, east and west
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  1. LATE MRS MARY ANN COLTON.
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    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 23 December 1938 p 7 Article Illustrated
    ... No -(Brootorn) Miss Mary Catherine (Binnie) Masterton, of Elsternwick, whose engagement to Mr. Howard Colton Barrett, of South Yarra, is an- nounced. ... 22 words
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  3. LANDS ALLOTTED
    Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 - 1954) Friday 20 February 1931 p 10 Article
    ... Wake, Kiiroo, via Kielpa. Miscellaneous leases. - Grazing and cultivation.- 182, Hd. Colton, Hugh McGregor McKenzie, Talia ; 186, 187, Hd. Colton, Ruth Kate Thomson, Spring Afale, EUistoh. Perpetual lease. - 137 to 144 in clusive, Hd. Pearce, Catherine Mary Darling, Tumby Bay, ... 78 words
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  1. Evidence in cases of telephone tapping. (Great Britain)
    Colton, Mary
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  2. Russia's Politics of Uncertainty.(Review)
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  4. They Answered The Call: A History of Minersville, Utah edited by Alvaretta Robinson.[Minersville, Utah: Centennial Committee, c1962.]
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    They Answered The Call: A History of Minersville, Utah edited by Alvaretta Robinson.[Minersville, Utah: Centennial Committee, c1962.]
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